Interaction between Volrath's Shapeshifter and Wormfang Manta
Asked by MrFantabulous 3 years ago
Hey it's been a long time since I built a deck with Volrath's Shapeshifter and Wormfang Manta. I know they completely changed their layering system since then I believe.
Because of the text on Volrath's shapeshifter taking the full text instead of just the normal clone copy mechanic, the text on Wormfang Manta reads "Leaves play".
Basically the combo was, have Volrath's in play, then discard wormfang manta to be the top card, then discard anything else.
This would trigger the "leaves play" as the state of the game from one moment to the next would see wormfang not on the table anymore and trigger an extra turn. Because all it has to do is "leave play"
But now with layering I'm not 100% sure what the interaction is with this mechanic.
Thanks!
This isn't leaving play, any more than discarding Wormfang Manta and having Volrath's Shapeshifter becoming a copy of it is a Wormfang Manta entering play. Your Shapeshifter is in play the entire time.
You could however use something like Semester's End in response to the second Volrath's Shapeshifter activation (once you've activated the ability, but before it resolves and you discard) to get your Shapeshifter to leave play.
Neotrup says... Accepted answer #1
Under the current rules of Magic, in order for a creature's leave the battlefield ability to trigger, it needs to leave the battlefield. In the situation you described, Volrath's Shapeshifter never leaves the battlefield, so the ability never triggers. While you did not bring this up, I know this was another relevant Wormfang Manta interaction so I will also mention that phasing out is not leaving the battlefield anymore (it remains on the battlefield and is simply treated as though it doesn't exist), and also does not trigger the ability.
April 16, 2022 8:04 p.m.